Episodes

The Districts graced the Riot Fest stage for the first time in 2018. Features Director Miranda Phelps caught up with the guys after their set to talk roots, politics, activism in action, and 90s uncle vibes.
produced by Amanda Roscoe Mayo
photo by Sarah Rudderow

Features Director Amanda Roscoe Mayo sat down with Milwaukee’s pop-punk darlings Direct Hit! at Riot Fest in the wake of their latest LP release “Crown of Nothing."
The band talks animated videos, super fans, DIY community outreach, and bad dad jokes.
Interviewed and Produced by Amanda Roscoe Mayo
Photo Credit by Nicole Zenoni

Interviewer Ari Mejia chats with singer/songwriter Tasha at the Chirp studio about her unique self-teaching style, the black radical tradition, and the importance of rest.
Produced by Ari Mejia
Photo credit: Grace Coudal

Andrew Meriwether caught up with Kaya who records, produces, and performs her music under the moniker Okay Kaya. They talk about themes of duality on her latest release ‘Both’, her use of Norwegian language on the last song in the album, and how intimacy becomes an angle into self-reflection.
Produced by Andrew Meriwether

This week CHIRP Volunteer, Andrew Meriwether, caught up with Angel Marcloid of Fire-Toolz. They talk about her new album Skinless X-1, her love smooth jazz, and much more. You can find Fire-Toolz on Bandcamp.

This week CHIRP volunteer, Jessi DiBartolomeo, sits down with Chicago R&B artist Jordanna to talk about the DIY scene in Chicago and the transition to the mainstream. You can see Jordanna at Schubas on September 2nd.

Sea and Cake are back at it with a record released this year on Thrill Jockey. Sam and Archer sat down with Features interviewer Michael Reed to talk record label history, Sam’s photography practice and how it relates to the music, and snack preferences.
Sea and Cake perform at Millennium Park on August 16, 2018.
Produced by Michael Reed
Photo credit: Heather Cantrell

BANBA, Ric Wilson’s latest project stands for ‘Black Art Not Bad Art’ and like much of his work is inspired by abstract artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Ric and Features Director Amanda Roscoe Mayo met up at Mamby on the Beach to dive into themes of activism, the language surrounding Black art, and of course what Ric likes to do in his down time in Chicago.
Produced by Amanda Roscoe Mayo

CHIRP volunteer, Ari Mejia, caught up with Chicago based singer song writer Bret Koontz at the CHIRP Studios. They talk about his most recent record, Low Light Trades, his experimentation in multiple mediums, and much more. You can check Low Light Trades on Bret's Bandcamp and see Bret play at Hungry Brain on August 8th.
Produced by Ari Mejia

Vocalist Via Rosa and producer Na'el Shehade are the duo known as DRAMA. Features interviewer Miranda Phelps caught up with them at Mamby on the Beach to talk shop. They got into what it’s like to collaborate as friends, whether or not they are hopeful about love, and shared some stories from the making of their current release, ‘Lies After Love.’
Produced by Amanda Roscoe Mayo

CHIRP Volunteer, Andrew Meriwether, sits down with Chicago-based musician Emily Jane Powers. They talk about her new album, Restless, the societal expectations of motherhood, and being in your 30's. You can check out Restless on Bandcamp.
Produced by Andrew Meriwether

CHIRP volunteer, Ari Mejia, catches up with legendary Chicago DJ Michael Serafini to talk house music in Chicago and the upcoming dance music event Red Bull Music Presents: "Queen!". Go check it out Friday, June 22nd.
Produced by Ari Mejia

Sarah Louise lives at the end of a gravel road in North Carolina. Her twelve string guitar arrangements and poetic lyrics take the listener on a journey through the wild and weird natural world. She spoke with Features Director Amanda Roscoe Mayo about learning new instruments for her latest release ‘Deeper Woods,’ a budding obsession with bird calls, and what its like to perform this meaningful work created in isolation and solitude.
Produced by Amanda Roscoe Mayo
Photo by Judy Henson

Features interviewer Josh Kessenich spoke with Sasami Ashworth, known as SASAMI on the heels of the release of her newest single ‘Callous.’ She dished to CHIRP Radio about the tour so far, how she made the shift from French horn to synthesizers further earning her nick-name of ‘Synth Queen,” and that’s not all. Tune in to get the whole scoop.
Produced by Amanda Roscoe Mayo (@AmandaRMayo)
Photo by Daria Kobayashi Ritch

Ben Lanz is a touring member of The National, making his own music under the moniker LANZ. Features Director Amanda Roscoe Mayo caught up with him at The National’s Homecoming Festival in Cincinnati to find out more about his newest release, Hoferlanz II, a complicated album with enticing twists, turns, and earworms. Beyond the album they discuss the acquisition of double zip jumpsuits and the lauded six hour performance of ‘Sorrow’ by The National at MoMA PS1 in 2013.
produced by Amanda...

Chicago based Courtesy sat down with Marites Valesquez in the CHIRP studios to talk about their new release "Hey," how the band got their start in Memphis continuing despite various members moving to Chicago over the years through file sharing and technology. They dive into their influences musically, ASMR and how anything can be sound!
Produced by Marites Valesquez
photo by Alexa Viscius

London based Jake Lee makes music under the moniker Sidewalks and Skeletons. The music is dark and dimensional. Features interviewer Lee Gomez caught up with him in Chicago. Ever wondered why each Sidewalks and Skeletons album ends with a post-metal track? Or what Witchhouse is? Tune in to find out!
Produced by Maxwell Carter